2G: Drop Maran from ministry, says JD (U)

New Delhi: The Janata Dal (United) on Friday demanded the immediate removal of Textile Minister Dayanidhi Maran who is under the scanner in the 2G spectrum case.

"The dirty deal in the 2G case is crystal clear. But he (Maran) is still continuing in the ministry. The Prime Minister should not waste any time in removing him from the government," JD (U) president Sharad Yadav alleged before reporters in New Delhi.

There have been allegations against Maran that his family-owned Sun TV Network was a beneficiary of pay-offs by a Malaysian company which benefited from equity sold by Aircel. Yadav claimed the kickback received by Sun TV was to the tune of Rs 600 crore.

Maran has already rejected the charges. Deploring police action against yoga guru Ramdev at Ram Lila Ground here on June 5, Yadav said prohibitory orders imposed later in the capital should be lifted immediately.

"I deplore the police action at Ram Lila Maidan. No one was involved in any violence there. What happened was unconstitutional and a blot on our democracy," he said.

"We ask the Government to lift 144 from Delhi immediately and allow people to exercise their democratic rights of protest in a peaceful manner. The government should go ahead against corruption rather than silencing the voice of those who are speaking against corruption," he said.

Yadav also said that Ramdev should "break" his fast because by resorting to such steps, "concern about the individual's health takes precedence over the issue on which the fast is being observed."

He said agitations launched by people like Anna Hazare and Ramdev has helped in spreading awareness about the scourge of corruption.

Talking about farmers protest in several parts of the country against land acquisition, Yadav demanded an ordinance to stop such acquisition till the Land Acquisition (Amendment) Bill is passed in Parliament.

"There is a big scam involving land acquisition and the issue is much larger than 2G spectrum case. There is farmer resistance across the country. The government should therefore bring an ordinance to stop such acquisition till the amendment bill is passed," he said.